New Time Zone!

Today was the "drive like hell" day: 662 miles to Belgrade, MT.  Big Sky country is full of a big beautiful sky, and rocky outcroppings.  Passed the Continental Divide, 6939 feet, this evening, and now it's down hill all the way!  Miss C, here I come!

The driving was easy today, B and I traded: 2 hour shifts, with stops to stretch, loosen up, and trade drivers.  Views of wind mills near the Colombia River,  picnic lunch in Coeur d' Alene at the lakeside park, dinner in Butte, with an extra stop in Wallace Idaho for emergency banking.  (Don't worry, everything's OK.)

Filled the gas tank twice, thanks to my wonderful Acme Book Club friends!

Now, I'm going swimming to knock off some of the road dust.  Yellowstone drive-through tomorrow.  All is well.  I feel like I've been on a boat all day.  Didn't they nail down this motel?

Last day on the Left Hand Coast

Today I packed the car!  Cooked my last meal for a while, took photos of my house.

I'm tired, but I probably won't sleep much tonight.  7:00 AM start tomorrow.

Miss B and I drive a long way to Montana.  I'll keep you posted.

Good Bye for REAL

Today, it was good-bye to two important C's in my life.  Both wonderful women: a lump was forming in my throat.  It's cumulative: book group bye-bye, family bye-bye, MM bye-bye, Mr N bye-bye, accordion band bye-bye, bye-bye by phone, bye-bye by email, bye-bye by hugs, and words.  So many people that will go on this adventure with me in my heart.

And I discovered space bags!!  Put your things in, suck out the air with the vacuum, and, presto!  More things in less space.  Thank you B for the great idea.  I will get everything in, including that big accordion case.

More Good-Byes

Mr N and I had a delightful day on Friday in B'ham; a little shopping, a little ice cream, a little walking, a few cribbage games, and most importantly a lot of talking. He's deep into summer school, looking forward to several weeks off in late August-early September. What a guy!

Saturday it was GB to my family; brother, sister-in-law, the nicest nieces and their significant others and of course baby S. (Not a baby any more -- a real toddler!) And dinner with my traveling companion, B and her husband.

I'm scattered, running from thought to thought, idea to idea, project to project. Whatever I'm forgetting will take care of itself. Does everyone have my new address?

Good-byes

Yesterday I said Good By to Mount Rainier.  That glorious mountain has always been a part of my life.  When the clouds cover, I always have known that she is there; when "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence commeth my help" it is Mount Rainier that is in my mind's eye.  JAM drove with me around the mountain, walked in the grove of the patriarchs, was patient while I took lots of photos.  Mount Rainier is a massive presence and beautiful meadows and flowers.  Snow lingered, and Paradise was full of a huge construction project.  Rain came in the afternoon, as Mt Rainier has her own weather.  Driving home we were back to the warm and dry.

 

Sort, Sort, Pack, Pack

Living in one's home for 34 years is problematic; do you realize how much "good stuff" one accumulates?  Why can I now throw away the birthday cards from 2006 that I could not do in 2006?  Some discoveries are precious: the programs from memorial services bring those dear departed people to mind; jewelry collected for a preschool teaching career; photos; journals.  (I can't seem to pack them away without reading them first!)

My stack of things to jam into my little car is growing.  Three boxes have been shipped. I'll go through my accordion music tonight to see what I want to work on during the next little while.  I'll fill the crevices of the accordion case with whatever will fit.  

During my last accordion lesson, my wonderful teacher talked so fast to say all the things that she will want me to know for the next YEAR!   Well, Gma La La, get back to the real work at hand.  (This blogging is addicting.)

To Be Continued!

This morning I woke up with only my trip and this new adventure in my mind.  Teddy Bear Camp finished yesterday, and with lots of help, all the TBC treasures are stowed until next summer.  I got the OK that someone else can make camp happen for 2009, so TBC now means Teddy Bear Camp -- to be continued!  

I have spent hours on the AAA website looking at the "trip-tic" plan of our drive to G Town.  We have reservations at planned stops, now I just need to organize my things, ship another box, and see all those wonderful friends that I'll miss.  But first the Saturday crossword puzzle.